IceDogs working overtime preparing for draft
With just over a week to go before the 2024 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection, there still doesn’t appear to be a consensus first overall pick which could have a big impact on who is still available when the Niagara IceDogs choose fourth.
The Windsor Spitfires, who had a 30 per cent chance, were awarded the first overall selection followed by the Sarnia Sting (10 per cent) and the Peterborough Petes (20 per cent) in the draft lottery last week. The IceDogs, who finished in last place in the standings and had a 40 per cent chance to be awarded the top pick, were awarded the fourth selection.
The 2024 OHL Priority Selection is set to begin on Friday, April 12 at 7 p.m. with rounds 1-3, followed by rounds 4-15 on Saturday, April 13.
“I like this draft because everyone is being challenged. One day this kid could go one, the next day that kid could go one,” IceDogs director of scouting Adam Henrich said. “Those elite guys could go anywhere.”
Some of the players being mentioned to go in the top of the draft include Braidy Wassilyn, a 6-foot-2, 195 pound forward from the Markham Majors, forward Adam Valentini of the Toronto Marlboros, defenceman Zachary Nyman of the Vaughan Kings, forward Ethan Belchetz of the Oakville Rangers, forward Caleb Malhotra of Vaughan and the son of former NHL forward Manny Malhotra, and forward Nathan Amidovski of the Barrie Colts U16AAA.
“Last year (Ryan) Roobroeck and (Matthew) Schaefer, they weren’t getting past two or three where this year you might see a one or two go four, five or six. It’s makes it a little challenging but that’s the fun part of the job. You end up with a good player either way,” Henrich said.
IceDogs interim general manager Wes Consorti did not want to discuss specific needs for their first selection, but did feel whoever is chosen should be able to step right into the lineup next season.
“What we do know is the player we do get will be an impact guy. There’s a lot of high-end guys in that range so we’ll get one of them. That’s the way we’re gearing for it,” Consorti said. “It’s imperative, there’s no other way to put it. We’re drafting players to play on our hockey team, like any other team. We have to be sure on these guys and do our part to make sure they can make the jump. Just like last year, we need players from this draft to play on the team. That’s very important.”
Signability has been an issue with the IceDogs since moving to Niagara — Lucas Lessio, Adam Bateman, Logan Brown and Sam Dickinson all snubbed their noses at the organization — but Henrich sounds optimistic that won’t be an issue this draft.
“It’s been amazing this year,” he said. “That’s why I’m really excited. I think people are now seeing we have a good coach in place, we have a program that is on the up, great rookies, guys who they are going to want to play with. They see the success of our young players and Niagara, St. Catharines, what an amazing area, a great place to play with great fan support.
“It’s been really positive this year which makes our job easier and I credit that to the coaching really taking off and our young players really having success and enjoying their time here as well.”
The IceDogs have 20 selections over the 15 rounds with picks in every round except the fifth and 15th rounds and two selections in the third, eighth, ninth and 12th rounds and three in the 14th round.
Henrich said the draft has more parity this year than he has seen in a while.
“When we box rounds or box players, the boxes are so big this year. You could have a kid where last year he would be 10-20, this year he could from 15 to 40,” he said. “It’s still a very good draft, it’s just the way the parity of the players is shaped.”
Henrich has been working overtime recently putting together a final master list of 300 players.
“Throughout the year, we finalize our list and speak to everybody, get their opinions and talk to some players and then we’ll get to the draft and get the final list we worked hard on all year up until the last minute and you’re moving things around and discussing with your scouts,” he said. “We’ll have a good guide of what we want, who we want, and when we want them, best player available type thing. We’re out there understanding what each team’s needs are and that gives us an upper hand going into the draft.”
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